Game apparatus



A. BECHTOLv GAME APPARATUS April 14, 1936.

2 sheets-sheet 1 Filed Feb. 15, 1934 rchie ec/LOZ Inventor His A April 14, 1936. A. BECHTQL' 2,037,108

GAME APPARATUS Filed Feb. l5, 19554 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ff? v' [Hoen for 7" P z's for Patented pr. 1-4, 1936 vUNITED lSTATES PATENT OFFlCE 2,031,108

GAME Arrm'rus Archie Bechtel, Chicago, lll. Application February 1.5, 1934, Serial No. 211,375-

mmm. (clava-121) This invention relates to game apparatus.

I t is an object of this invention to provide an improved game apparatus which is relatively 'simple andinexpensive in construction and eilicient in use.

Another object of the invention is to provide a gamev apparatus comprising the combination of a member providing a ball playing surface provided with ball-receiving scoring elements or pockets; a ramp forconducting the balls onto the playing surface toward one end thereof; means for projecting theballs one at a time along the ramp onto the playing surface; resilient rails or cushions defining marginal edges of said playing surface; a ball-defiecting member arranged vin the path of travel of the balls from the ramp onto the playing surface; and means for positioning the said ball-deflecting member in any preselected one of various positions so as to deflect the zo balls one at a time at .various preselected points on said cushions so as to carom Athe balls from the latter into preselected ones of said ball-receiving elements or pockets. An additional object of the invention is to provide anamusement game apparatus requiring much of the knowledge of angles required in playing billiards.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the novel combination Yarid arrangement of -parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, showing the preferred formof construction and in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a game Aapparatus embodyinga preferred form of the invention; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal. vertical sectional view of the structure shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a perspective detail view, partly in sec- .tion,-illustrating a. preferred form of the balldeecting member and means for adjustably positioningthe same;

Fig. 4 is a sectional detail view on line 4 -4 in Fis. 3:

Fig. 5 is a. sectional dtan'view on une a--eis e inFls. 2; i i

Fig. 6 is a sectional detail view on line 6-6 in Fig. 1 showing one of the ball-receiving ele- Yments or pockets; and Fig. "l is a sectional detail view showing'another form of ball-receiving element or pocket. Y

A preferred form of the new game apparatusv is illustrated in the'drawings, being generally indicated therein at i0, and comprises a cabinet Il ed which udes a member I2 providing an in- .I3, is a link I'I and clined ball playing surface I3. This member I2 is provided with ball exit scoring openings 31. Leading onto the playing surface I3, toward one -end thereof, is a ramp I4, and arranged at the lower end of the ramp for propellingballs one 5 at a time therealong up onto the playing surface I3 is a ball-projecting device I5. Arranged in the path of travel of the balls as they travel from the ramp 'I4 onto the playing surface I3 is a ball-defiecting member 28, which 10 is pivotally mounted above the playing surface I3 vupon Ia vertical supporting post I6 (Fig. 3) for movement over the underlying portion of the playing surface I3. This ball deflector 28 is pre ferably made in the form of a block of rubber or 1| -other resilient material.

Attached to the supporting post I6 (Fig. 3) at the lower end of .the latter and below the inclined I2 which provides the playing surface pivotally connected to this .20 link I1, as at I8, is one end of a relatively long horizontal bar Ill (Fig. 3) which extends below the playing surface I3 (Fig. 2) toward the lower member end of the latter.

Attached to that'end of. the bar I9 that is oppo- 25 site the end attached to the link I1 is a follower 2i which is threaded-into a horizontal operating screw 2 I. This follower 20 is prevented fro m turning and is guided inl its movement by a guide rod 38. This operating screw has an Unthreaded 30 end portion 24 that is rotatably mounted in a bearing'sleeve 22 (Fig. 4)'. This bearing sleeve 22 is mounted in a vertical end wall 23, of the cabinet II, which is arranged at the lower end l of the playing surface I3. 35 Rotatably mounted upon the unthreaded end portion 24 of the operating s crew 2l is a flangedextension 25 of a disc 2li which is arranged exteriorly of the cabinet Il, adjacent the wall 23 thereof, and below'the ball projecting device I5. 40

This disc 26 carries an operating handle 2l. l

The anged disc 26 has a pressure release or so-called slip connection with the unthreaded end portion 24 of the operating screw 2|. This slip lconnection comprise'san annular row of cup-A 45' shaped sockets or indentations 29 f ormed in the screwportion 24. These sockets 29 are adapted for selective latching engagement with a ball 30 that is arranged, with its urging spring 32, in a Y groove 3l that` is formed in the, flanged extension 50- 25ofthedisc26. w The engagement ofthe ball 30 inany one of the sockets 129, under the action of the spring.

. 32; is sufficient-to latch the sleeve 25 to the screw portion '24 so that the operating screw 2i be 55 rotated by turning the handle 21 and disc 26, so as to cause the follower 20 to move axially along ,the screw 2|. This movement of the follower 2li axially along the screw 2l causes the operating bar I3, link I1, and post I6 to move in correspondence therewith so that thev ball deflector 28 may be adjusted or pivoted vinto any preselected one of various positions within its allowed range of movement upon the playing surface I3.

By so adjusting the ball deflector 28 the played balls may be projected up the ramp I4 by the ball projecting device l5 and engaged with the ball deiiector 28 so as to be deflected thereby toward any preselected point on the relatively long resilient side rail or cushion 33 which denes one vmarginal edge of the playing surface I3; whereupon the played. ball may. gravitate down the playing surface I3 an'd drop through one of the ball exit scoring openings 31 formed in the member I2 for return tothe ball projecting device I5 (by suitablemeans, not shown) or, the played ball may, depending upon the players judgment of angles and skill in manipulating the deflector 28, be deflected from the rail or cushion 33 toward one of the shorter but similar rails 34, 35 and 36. These rails 33, 34, 35 and 36 are preferably made of rubber or analogous resilient material, after the manner of the side rails or cushions of billiard tables and are placed at angles relative to each other so that after the played ball engages'the deflector 28 and is de- 'flected thereby against the long rail 33 it will rebound or carom from the latter 4toward one or more of the side rails 34. 35 and 36 and, depending upon the skill of the player, be directed either into one of a series of ball-receiving pockets 39 (Fig. 6) arranged at intervals upon the playing surface I3 or into one of another group of ball-receiving elements or scoring pockets 48 which are arranged in a row at the upper end of the playing surface I3 (Figs. l, 3 and '1) By an examination of Figs. 1 and 6, and Figs.

3 and 7, it will be ascertained that the inlets or mouths 4I and 42 of the scorii..J pockets 38 and 40, respectively, open outupon the playing surface I3 toward the lower end of the latter so that in order to score a played ball into one of these pockets 38 or 40 the player must skillfully manipulate the ball deilector 28, with a proper understanding of angle play, that is familiar to all billiard players, so that the ball will be deected by the member 28 toward the long rail or cushion 33 and thence rebound from the atter against one or more of the rails 34, 35 and 36 from which, in turn, the played ball may rebound up the inclined playing surface I3 into a preselected one of the scoring pockets 38-or 43; it being noted that the played balls can not be directly guided by the deflector 28 into any of the pockets 33 or 43 but must be directed into these po :ets from the cushions or rails 33, 34, 35 and 33 by a skillful manipulation of the deiiector 28 and a knowledge of the angle play involved in order to accomplish this end. For these reasons play upon the new game apparatus resembles, in many respects, the game of billiards.

Each of the scoring pockets 33 comprises an upright housing 43. 'lhese housings 43 are attached to the member I2 and open at their lower ends, as at 44 (Fig. 6) through the member I2 so as to discharge the balls therefrom below the playing surface for return to the ball-projecting device I5 (by means not shown). A resilient bumper 45 of rubber or analogous material surroundseach. of the housings 43 except at the inlets or mouths 4I of the s e yso as to deect the balls striking the housings at points other than at the inlets 4I thereof.

The scoring pockets 40 are formed by an angled row of U-shaped frames 46 which are attached 5 to an upright wall 41 arranged at the upper end of the playing surface I3. The parallel side walls 48 of these frames 46 are spaced by members 43 which define the' inlets 42 to the pockets 4l. 'I'hese members 48 may well be made of resilient material such, for example, as rubber or the like. or other suitable material so as todeectthe balls away from the inlets thereto and make it more difiicult to `score the balls in the pockets 48.

After entering the pockets 40 the balls fall therefrom through exit openings 50 formed in the member I2, one at the bottom of each pocket 48, for return to the ball projecting device or plunger I5 (by means not shown).

If the player attempts to force the deector 28` beyond the limit of its travel or operates the disc 26 and its handle 21 violently, the consequent rotation of the operating screw portion 24 will force the latch ball 30 out of its socket 29 against the action of the spring 32 and thereby operatively disconnects the sleeve 25 and operating screw 24-2I and thus prevents rotation of the operating screw 2| and movement of the follower 23, operating bar I9, and ball deilector 28.

The cushions or rails 34-35 may be spaced at their lower ends, if desired, as at 5I (Fig. 1) so as to provide access for the balls to a free play opening 52.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modification, without departing from the spirit of the invention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precised details of construction set forth, but desire to avail melf of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. In a u apparatus: a cabinet including. member ding an inclined playing surface and said member having ball exit scoring openings therein; a ramp extending along one marginal edge of said playing surface; means for propelling balls one at a time through said ramp onto the upper portion of said playing surface so that they may gravltate thereover and enter into said exit openings: a ball-deflecting member movably mounted upon said playing surface in the path of balls emerging from said ramp; and means for positioning said ball-deilecting member at diiferent times in various positions so as todefiect balls therefrom at preselected ones of said exit openings; said second-named means including a member adjustably mounted in a wall of said cabinet and having a handle portion disposed exteriorly thereof; said second-named -means including a member slidably mounted in said cabinet below the said Playing surface; said slidable member having an operative connection at one end with said ball-deflecting member and having an operative connection at its other end with said adjustable member.

4 2. In a game apparatus: a cabinet including member providing an inclined playing surface and said member-having ball exit scoring openings therein: a ramp extending along one marginal edge of said playing surface: mean ter 1F propelling balls one at a timethrough said ramp onto the upper portion of said playing surface so that they may gravitate thereover and enter into said exit openings; a ball-deilecting member movably mounted upon said playing surface in the path of balls emerging from said ramp; means for positioning said ball-deilecting member -at different times in various positions so as to deflect balls therefrom at preselected ones of said exit openings; said second-named means including a screw member adjustably mounted in a wall of said 'cabinet and having a handle portion disposed exteriorly thereof; said secondnamed means including la follower mounted for movement axially along said screw member; and a member slidably mounted in said cabinet having an operative connection at one end with said ball-deflecting member and having an operative connection at its other end with said follower.

3. In a game apparatus: a cabinet including a member providing au inclined playingsurface; a` ramp extending along one marginal edge of said playing surface; means for propelling balls one at a time along said ramp onto the upper porcomprising a screw member adjustably mounted in a wall of said cabinet and having a handle portion projecting exteriorly thereof adjacent the lower end of said playing surface; a follower mounted for axial movement along said screw member; and a slidable membermovably mounted in said cabinet below said playing sinface: said slidable member having an operative connection at one end with said follower and having an operative connection at'its other end with said ball-deilecting y member.

4. In a game apparatus, a cabinet including a member providing an inclined playing surface; a runway extending along one marginal edge of said playing surface; means for propelling balls one at a'time along said runway onto the upper portion of said playing surface so that they may gravitate thereover; a ball deiiecting member arranged upon the upper portion of said-playing surface in the path of balls emerging from said runway; means for moving said ball deecting member into various preselected positions; said means comprising a member adjustably mounted in a wall of said cabinet below the playing surface and having a handle portion projecting exteriorly of the cabinet adjacent the lower end of the playing surface; and means in said cabinet adjustable member.

ARCIEE BECHTOL. 

